William F. Russell (CPD)

William F. Russell (1 December 1874-1 April 1946) was Chief of the Chicago Police Department from 12 September 1928 to 16 June 1930, succeeding Michael Hughes and preceding James P. Allman.

Biography
William F. Russell was born in County Clare, Ireland in 1874, and he later emigrated to the United States and became a Chicago Police Department officer. In 1928, he was appointed Chief of the CPD, and he befriended fellow Irish immigrant policeman Jimmy Malone. However, by 1930 their relationship had soured, especially after Malone joined Eliot Ness' task force in investigating mob boss Al Capone's illegal activities. Russell gave several tips to Malone, but Russell soon came to fear for his life, and he and Malone got into an argument behind the police station one night. Malone threatened to expose Russell's past corruption if he did not help him find the bookkeeper Walter Payne, leading to a physical altercation between the men. Ultimately, Russell gave him the schedule of Payne's return train, but he probably had a role in tipping off the Chicago Outfit hitman Frank Nitti to Malone's address on 1634 Racine Avenue, where Malone was killed that same night. Russell resigned later that year, and he died in 1946.